A Perfect Day Trip from Ludlow to Manchester, Vermont
Just 25 minutes from The Governor's Inn, Manchester, VT offers the Lincoln family estate at Hildene, designer outlet shopping, the Mount Equinox Skyline Drive, world-class art at SVAC, and some of Southern Vermont's best dining -- here's how to spend a perfect day.
A Perfect Day Trip from Ludlow to Manchester, Vermont
Manchester, Vermont sits between the Green Mountain and Taconic ranges, about a 25-minute drive south of The Governor's Inn on scenic Route 103. It's close enough for a leisurely day trip and different enough to feel like a proper getaway -- with a Lincoln family estate, designer outlet shopping, a toll road to a mountain summit, and some of the best dining in Southern Vermont. Here's how to spend a perfect day in Manchester.
Start with Breakfast at Up For Breakfast
Get an early start at Up For Breakfast on Main Street in Manchester Center. This no-reservations, cash-only institution has been a local favorite for years, serving buttermilk, buckwheat, and sourdough pancakes, eggs Benedict, and oversized omelets. It's the kind of place where the line forms early on weekends, so arrive before 8 AM if you can. Hours are 7 AM to 12:30 PM weekdays, 7 AM to 1:30 PM weekends. (4935 Main Street; 802-362-4204)
Tour Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home
The crown jewel of Manchester. Hildene is the 412-acre estate built in 1905 by Robert Todd Lincoln -- the only son of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln to survive to adulthood. Robert served as chairman of the Pullman Palace Car Company and U.S. Secretary of War, and his Georgian Revival summer home is beautifully preserved. The estate includes a mansion filled with Lincoln family artifacts (including President Lincoln's own stovepipe hat), a meticulously restored 1912 Pullman railcar you can walk through, a working goat dairy, and sprawling peony gardens. Allow two to three hours minimum.
Open daily 10 AM to 4:30 PM through October 31. Admission is $12.50 for adults; children 16 and under are free. (1005 Hildene Road; 802-362-1788)
Shop the Manchester Designer Outlets
After Hildene, head into Manchester's compact downtown, where Manchester Designer Outlets offer brand-name and designer shopping in an outdoor village setting. You'll find outlets for Brooks Brothers, J. Crew, Ralph Lauren, and others, plus independent boutiques and the Vermont Country Store -- which we've written about before and is worth a stop for its old-fashioned candy counter and hard-to-find general store goods.
Lunch at The Copper Grouse
For lunch or dinner, The Copper Grouse inside the Kimpton Taconic Hotel is the standout. The menu leans American comfort food with a Vermont sensibility -- think Vermont cheddar burgers, locally sourced salads, and a solid craft beer list. The setting, in a beautifully restored inn, is worth the visit alone. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (3835 Main Street; 802-362-0176)
Drive the Mount Equinox Skyline Drive
In the afternoon, head up. The Mount Equinox Skyline Drive is the longest privately owned paved toll road in the United States, winding 5.2 miles to the 3,848-foot summit of Mount Equinox -- the highest point in the Taconic Range. The views from the top span four states on a clear day. The road is open daily 9 AM to 4 PM through October 31. Admission is $30 per vehicle. It's a slow, scenic drive with pull-offs at every viewpoint -- take your time.
Explore the Southern Vermont Arts Center
If you prefer art to altitude, the Southern Vermont Arts Center is a must. Housed in a Georgian mansion on a 100-acre campus, SVAC mounts exhibitions featuring local, national, and international artists. Starting July 29, "Active Objects: SVAC Artist Members Exhibition" runs through October 4, showcasing work across media from the center's artist members. SVAC also recently received a landmark gift of 250 artworks from Lyman Orton, proprietor of the Vermont Country Store, as part of the "For the Love of Vermont" collection -- a significant addition that further cements the center as a cultural destination. (930 SVAC Drive; 802-362-1405)
Optional Stops
- Pastime Pinball -- Play on 60+ vintage pinball machines. A surprisingly addictive way to spend an hour, especially with kids.
- Merck Forest and Farmland Center -- A working farm and forest on 60 public acres in nearby Rupert, with hiking trails, farm animals, and sustainable forestry demonstrations. Free admission.
- Emerald Lake State Park -- A small, wooded state park with a sandy beach and swimming area -- a great way to cool off on the drive back. Day-use fee is $5 per adult.
The Drive Home
The beauty of a Manchester day trip from The Governor's Inn is that you're back in Ludlow in under 30 minutes -- just enough time to change for dinner, walk to a nearby restaurant, or simply relax on the porch. Pair this trip with our guides to hiking near Ludlow and swimming holes in the Okemo Valley to build a full weekend itinerary, or check our August events guide for what's happening closer to home.
Ready to explore Southern Vermont? Book your stay at The Governor's Inn and make Ludlow your base camp for the best of the Okemo Valley and beyond.
